Baby Tossing Ritual
Videos of a 500 year old tradition practiced in Solapur, Maharastra, which involves the throwing of infants from 50 feet onto a sheet of cloth below, is the bizarre news from India for the day!
India’s Impressive Space Program
BBC News takes a look at India’s 45 year old, young but impressive, space program. Highlighting it’s latest achievement of deploying 10 satellites in one shot.
Blogs Changing Lives
Riddhi Shah of Hindustan Times talks to Kiruba Shankar, Suman Kumar, Akshay Mahajan and Gautam Ghosh; four people whose blogs have changed their lives.
I wonder why some of the news sites don’t link to the blogs they write about!
Aamir Khan Explains Desicion to Carry Torch
While all around people have started to boycott the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony and carrying of the Olympic torch, actor Aamir Khan, keeping with the Olympic spirit, has decided to proudly carry the torch on April 17th.
Chinese Army Obstacle Course
Indian Army’s joint training with the Chinese PLA at a tough Chinese obstacle course. Here is how the American Marines fared on another course.
Chennai Tibet Protest
Video of Tibet supporters protesting in Chennai. “China Lies Tibet Dies”
Lion Tackles Kalari Teacher
A video of Kalaripayat art teacher, Gitanjali Kolanad being tackled by Leo the lion, during a photo shoot with a lion for Desi Life magazine
Flight to Nowhere
Bahadur Chand Gupta, a former aeronautical engineer’s vision, giving the poor villagers and slum dweller in Delhi an opportunity to see and experience the inside of a plane. A simple idea, but one that inspires; especially the children.
School Chale Ham
A beautiful and inspirational film by Bharatbala Productions made for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (Universilisation of Elementary Education), a programme under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, India.
Respect your banknote
The Reserve Bank of India asks the public to respect the countries banknotes and not use it for making garlands.
“Such actions deface the banknotes and shorten their life, the Reserve Bank stated and added that
banknotes should be respected as they are a symbol of the Sovereign and public should not misuse them so that the life of banknotes is enhanced.”
Shot in Bombay: A Bollywood Documentary
A documentary by film maker Liz Mermin.
“a fast-paced, often surreal documentary exploring the thin lines separating crime from punishment and fiction from reality in and around “Bollywood” [via Saja Forum]
Old vs. New India, a Contrast
A New York Times slideshow contrasting India, old and new. In a land of no power, and power cuts, new India’s energy demands are on the rise, resulting in concern for the environment, energy efficiency and the impact on old India.
Indian Supreme Court Redifines ‘Dowry’
The Indian Supreme Court has ruled that customary payments and gifts cannot be categorized as dowry. Justice Pasayat and gang wrote this judgment. These foolish enablers of the dowry system need to be kicked out of the Supreme court.
Kashmir Singh Returns
After being wrongly imprisoned on suspicion of espionage for 35 years in Pakistan, 67 year old Kashmir Singh finally returns home.
“I have no wishes left. I have got everything now.”
Andrew Symonds Brings Down Streaker
Andrew Symonds clotheslines a streaker during the second match of the one-day triangular series against India in Brisbane, Australia.
India went on to win the match and take the series.
Caste System in Indian Public Schools
This Washington Post article portrays a grim picture of how the caste system is still prevalent in India, especially in public schools across India. While the rich upper castes send their kids to private school, it’s often the children from lower caste who end up in India’s ignored public education system. Why is it still so hard for us to get rid of these tags and see every citizen of India as an Indian and nothing else?!
The Golden Chariot
Anita Bora shares he experience aboard The Golden Chariot, Karnataka’s version of Palace on Wheels. An 8 day journey on this luxurious train comes with a price tag of $2450 per person. If you can afford it, definitely looks worth it.
Dubbagol: Another digg clone for the desis
Dubbagol.com is a new digg like site for the desi audience. The interesting catch here is that for every 100 stories submitted, dubbagol will pick a random story, and give out cash to the person who posted the story.